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Keep up to date with all the movements around the counties ahead of the 2026 men’s county season

ESPNcricinfo staff

Sam Northeast is heading back to his boyhood county, Kent•Huw Evans Agency

Keep up to date with all the movements around the counties as preparations are made for the 2026 men’s county seasonDerbyshireIN: Matt Montgomery (Nottinghamshire)
OUT: David Lloyd (retired), Alex Thomson (released)
OVERSEAS: Caleb JewellDurhamIN: Kasey Aldridge (Somerset), Archie Bailey (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Mitchell Killeen (Essex), Paul Coughlin (Lancashire)
OVERSEAS:EssexIN: Mitchell Killeen (Durham), Zaman Akhter (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Nick Browne (retired), Adam Rossington, Jamal Richards (both released)
OVERSEAS: Simon HarmerGlamorganIN: Sean Dickson (Somerset)
OUT: Sam Northeast (Kent), Tom Bevan (released)
OVERSEAS: Colin IngramGloucestershireIN: Craig Miles (Warwickshire), Will Williams (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
OUT: Archie Bailey (Durham), Ajeet Singh Dale (Lancashire), Zaman Akhter (Essex), Dom Goodman (Sussex), Tom Price (Sussex), Josh Shaw (Somerset)
OVERSEAS: Cameron Bancroft, Gabe Bell (April-May), D’Arcy Short (T20), Liam Scott (May-July)HampshireIN: Jake Lehmann (UK passport)
OUT: Keith Barker (Warwickshire), Benny Howell (Nottinghamshire), Joseph Eckland (released)
OVERSEAS: Kyle Abbott, Michael Neser (April-May)KentIN: Sam Northeast (Glamorgan), Matt Milnes (Yorkshire)
OUT: Jack Leaning (Sussex), Nathan Gilchrist (Warwickshire), George Garrett (retired), Marcus O’Riordan, Mohammed Rizvi (both released)
OVERSEAS: Keith DudgeonLancashireIN: Paul Coughlin (Durham), Ajeet Singh Dale (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Will Williams (Gloucestershire), Josh Boyden (released)
OVERSEAS: Marcus Harris, Chris Green (T20)LeicestershireIN: Stephen Eskinazi (Middlesex), Jonny Tattersall (Yorkshire), Josh Davey (Somerset), Ben Green (Somerset)
OUT: Louis Kimber (Northamptonshire), Chris Wright, Harry Swindells (both retired), Matt Salisbury, Roman Walker (both released)
OVERSEAS: Peter Handscomb, Keshav Maharaj (April-July)MiddlesexIN: Caleb Falconer (academy)
OUT: Stephen Eskinazi (Leicestershire)
OVERSEAS:NorthamptonshireIN: Louis Kimber (Leicestershire), Calvin Harrison (Nottinghamshire)
OUT: Freddie Heldreich (released)
OVERSEAS: Matthew Breetzke, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Conway (April-May), Yuzvendra Chahal (July-Sept)NottinghamshireIN: Benny Howell
OUT: Calvin Harrison (Northamptonshire), Matthew Montgomery (Derbyshire), Sammy King, Dane Schadendorf (both released)
OVERSEAS: Kyle Verreynne, Fergus O’Neil (April-June)SomersetIN: Josh Shaw (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Kasey Aldridge (Durham), Sean Dickson (Glamorgan), Josh Davey (Leicestershire), Ben Green (Leicestershire), Andrew Umeed (released)
OVERSEAS: Riley Meredith (T20), Migael PretoriusSurreyIN: Ralphie Albert (academy)
OUT:
OVERSEAS:SussexIN: Danny Briggs (Warwickshire), Jack Leaning (Kent), Dom Goodman (Gloucestershire), Tom Price (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Ari Karvelas, Bertie Foreman, Archie Lenham, Zach Lion-Cachet, Henry Rogers (all released)
OVERSEAS: Jaydev Unadkat (June-Sept)WarwickshireIN: Keith Barker (Hampshire), Nathan Gilchrist (Kent), Jordan Thompson (Yorkshire)
OUT: Danny Briggs (Sussex), Craig Miles (Gloucestershire), Moeen Ali (retired)
OVERSEAS: Beau Webster (April-July)WorcestershireIN:
OUT: Tom Hinley, Yadvinder Singh (both released)
OVERSEAS: Usama Mir (T20), Ben Dwarshuis (T20)YorkshireIN:
OUT: Matt Milnes (Kent), Jordan Thompson (Warwickshire), Jonny Tattersall (Leicestershire), Dawid Malan (Gloucestershire)
OVERSEAS:

Liverpool won at the weekend, but we have seen several times already this season that wins can prove to be false dawns as Arne Slot looks to restore consistency to his side.

Goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo snipped away the shocking run of form that had led to nine defeats from 12 in all competitions, six from seven in the Premier League, three from four at Anfield.

It beggars belief, so diametrically opposed is Slot’s second-season system from the slick and stylish outfit that defied everyone to romp to the league title last season, sealing the deal less than a year after Jurgen Klopp raised the microphone and waved goodbye to the red half of Merseyside.

Liverpool must stay grounded, as Slot said in his post-match interview. There is a long way to go.

One of the most curious aspects of the Reds’ victory was the boss’s call to drop Mohamed Salah. This glimpse into a brand new world has also played into rumours that FSG are looking to sign a wide forward in 2026.

Liverpool planning to replace Salah

Salah did not make it off the bench at the London Stadium, the first time the Egyptian has been an unused substitute in the Premier League since 2019/20, with Klopp’s title-winning campaign effectively wrapped up when the Reds played out a 0-0 draw in the Merseyside derby.

Last season, he was the best player in the Premier League. But that herculean effort has depleted the veteran’s resources, and he is struggling this year.

Mohamed Salah’s Premier League Form

Stats (per 90)

24/25

25/26

Goals scored

0.77

0.34

Assists

0.48

0.17

Shots taken

3.23

2.43

Shot-creating actions

4.51

3.27

Touches (att pen)

9.50

6.21

Pass completion (%)

70.6

68.1

Progressive passes

3.84

4.19

Progressive carries

4.14

3.94

Successful take-ons

1.55

0.92

Ball recoveries

2.70

2.77

Data via FBref

As you can see, there’s been an undeniable drop-off. Liverpool’s wider crew have all slipped across the decking, but time is not on the 33-year-old Salah’s side.

To try and find a like-for-like replacement would be a fruitless task. What Liverpool need instead is a sharp and athletic winger with a flair for goal. Someone like Sadio Mane, perhaps (hardly an easy endeavour in itself).

Well, as per Foot Mercato, Liverpool have opened talks with rivals Everton for one of their star forwards, Iliman Ndiaye.

The versatile Ndiaye, 25, is both athletic and potent in the final third. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested, and the Toffees would be looking to bank around £70m for their star man.

What Iliman Nidaye would offer Liverpool

Woah. From Everton to Liverpool? Blue to red? Nonsense, right?

It’s certainly unlikely, but Liverpool have held an interest in Jarrad Branthwaite for a while now, and Everton explored a move for Ben Doak in the summer before he signed for Bournemouth.

And Ndiaye would be worth the stress. Hailed for having “magic in his boots” by Everton writer Lyndon Lloyd, he ranks among the top 5% of positional peers in the Premier League for successful take-ons and tackles won, and the top 1% for ball recoveries per 90 (as per FBref).

Presenter Jamie O’Hara has even gone as far as to claim that the Senegalese is “one of the best players in the Premier League”.

Ndiaye shares a homeland with Liverpool icon Mane, but they have more in common than merely nationality. The Everton winger, who can play across the frontline, is electric on the ball, combative when against the flow of play and devastating in the box.

Though he’s spent most of his time on the right wing this season, Ndiaye is probably a left-sided forward at heart. Considering this, there’s a good chance Ndiaye would take Cody Gakpo’s starting berth from him at Anfield, with a more protean threat than the clinical Dutchman.

The African talent was Everton’s top scorer last season with 11 goals in all competitions, and that trend has not been bucked this year, Ndiaye with four goals and an assist across 13 games.

When Mane moved from Southampton to Liverpool for around £35m in 2016, he levelled up. Ndiaye could follow his countryman in this regard, having added a range of instruments to his toolbox in recent years and in an up-and-down Everton team.

Liverpool perhaps made a mistake in failing to replace Luis Diaz with a like-for-like successor this summer, and the ramifications have been felt through Gakpo’s somewhat limited attacking approach. He scored and assisted against West Ham at the weekend, but lacked the kind of dynamism that Liverpool’s previous left-sided wingers have offered.

Mane is certainly one of them, probably the cream of the crop. It would be unfair to expect Gakpo to play such a role, but if Ndiaye were signed, Slot would have a player who could match the Netherlands star’s output while bringing so much energy and enthusiasm to the role too.

Mane, now 34 and playing in Saudi Arabia, was once one of the world’s finest forwards, deadly across so many years at Anfield and blending clinical goalscoring with physicality and an unflappable mentality.

One scout even hailed Ndiaye as being “Mane all over again”, and given this is a proven formula in the English top flight, it’s surely one FSG will be enticed in completing.

With the greatest respect to West Ham, tougher tests lie ahead for the Anfield side, whose win at Eintracht Frankfurt in August preceded defeat at Brentford. The elation over that remarkable victory over Real Madrid had crumbled after the triad of recent losses.

Liverpool are nothing if not inconsistent this season, but that can change. It has to change. Liverpool need balance and security, but they also need to be bold and courageous, offering more flair than the likes of Gakpo have been providing.

And what could be more bold than signing a rival in Ndiaye, who would elevate the skill in Slot’s team and also balance the squad’s slanting spirit level.

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Posts ByDan Emery Nov 30, 2025

When the New York Yankees open the 2025 MLB season, they won't have the services of one of the biggest bats in their lineup.

Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will start '25 on the injured list, according to a Saturday afternoon report from Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Stanton, 35, has not reported to spring training while "attending to a personal matter," Hoch wrote. He also noted that Stanton's injuries are to his elbows, and that the five-time All-Star has received platelet-rich plasma injections to treat them.

New York is scheduled to open its season on March 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 114 games for the Yankees last season, Stanton slashed .233/.298/.475 with 27 home runs and 72 RBIs. As usual, he caught fire in the postseason, crushing seven home runs against the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Despite his gaudy numbers, Stanton hasn't played more than 139 games in a full season since 2018.

Leeds United central midfielder Sean Longstaff has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet in the middle of the park since his move to the club in the summer.

The Whites swooped to sign him from Premier League rivals Newcastle United in a deal worth up to £15m to compete with the likes of Ao Tanaka, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, and Ilia Gruev.

Longstaff’s experience in the top-flight with the Magpies has helped him to hit the ground running at Elland Road with some impressive showings in midfield.

The 27-year-old star’s breakout performance for Daniel Farke’s side came in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last week, as he scored and assisted a goal.

His fantastic strike, as shown in the clip above, should have been enough to claim all three points for Leeds, but a stoppage-time equaliser meant that they had to settle for one.

Unfortunately, though, the English midfielder was not at his very best in the club’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on Saturday.

How Sean Longstaff performed against Spurs

The former Newcastle man lined up in the middle of the park alongside Stach and Ampadu once again, as they have started to form an impressive unit in midfield.

However, Longstaff did not continue his impressive form. Instead, the Englishman was a bit too easy to play against at times for the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi Simons.

The experienced star was dribbled past three times in midfield, losing half (5/10) of his duels, per Sofascore, which shows that the Spurs players got the better of him too many times.

His part in Mathys Tel’s opening goal summed up his overall performance. Longstaff failed to control a bouncing ball in the middle of the park and then got outmuscled by Bentancur on the turn, which then teed up Mohammed Kudus to set Tel away for his strike.

The Newcastle academy graduate could have prevented the goal by adjusting his body to control the ball from the initial header forward from Spurs, shielding Bentancur out of contention to take it off him.

Vs Spurs	Sean Longstaff
Minutes	90
Key passes	5
Shots	4
Shots on target	0
Tackles made	4
Dribbled past	3x
Duels won	5/10
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, it was not an utterly dreadful performance from the central midfielder, who created five chances for his teammates and made four tackles.

However, all four of his shots failed to find the target, he was dribbled past three times, he lost half of his duels, and he was partially to blame for Tel’s goal.

His underwhelming display should not be a cause for too much concern, though, because it was against the Europa League champions and he has shown that he can put in some excellent showings for Leeds.

Meanwhile, though, one of his teammates put in another concerning performance that may sound some alarm bells, as he is on course to become a flop if things do not improve.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Championship champions swooped to add some Premier League experience to their frontline during the summer transfer window, with the addition of Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton.

Unfortunately, though, there have been more worrying performances than there have been impressive ones since he made the switch to Elland Road in August.

Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin may become a Leeds flop

Bringing the 28-year-old in, even on a free transfer, was always going to be a gamble by the club because of his output in recent seasons for the Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin scored three goals from 6.75 xG in the 2024/25 season, seven goals from 12.93 xG in the 2023/24 season, and two goals from 5.84 xG in the 2022/23 season in the Premier League for Everton, per Sofascore.

This shows that Leeds signed a player who had struggled badly in front of goal for at least three seasons, underperforming against his xG in all three of those campaigns.

Calvert-Lewin’s debut for Leeds, as shown in the graphic above, did little to ease any concerns about his ability in front of goal, as he missed four ‘big chances’ and a penalty in the club’s loss to Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.

The former England international did score an impressive header against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 3-1 win for the Whites last month, but that is his only goal for the club to date.

Calvert-Lewin had a big chance to find the back of the net against Spurs on Saturday, when Noah Okafor pressed the defence into a mistake, but the experienced striker fired his effort high and wide of Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.

The English centre-forward was even worse than Longstaff against the Lilywhites because he struggled with his play in and out of possession of the ball.

Vs Spurs	Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Minutes	90
Shots	2
Big chances missed	1
Big chances created	0
Dribbles completed	0/3
Ground duels won	0/6
Aerial duels won	2/5
Fouls committed	3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin lost the vast majority of his duels, failed in all three of his attempted dribbles, and missed a ‘big chance’, which was the aforementioned one that he fired over the bar.

This shows that he was even worse than Longstaff, who at least won half of his duels and created five chances for the team, and the striker is now in danger of becoming the next Pierre-Michel Lasogga at Elland Road.

The German striker spent the 2017/18 campaign on loan at the club in the Championship and scored ten goals in 31 league matches, but his general play was less-than-impressive.

Former Leeds forward Noel Whelan once criticised the brute number nine, who was on loan from Hamburg, saying: “He looked heavy, he looked leggy, he looked slow.”

Unfortunately, some of those criticisms could also be levelled at Calvert-Lewin, who has lost 63% of his duels and completed just 17% of his attempted dribbles in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, to go along with one goal and five ‘big chances’ missed.

The former Everton attacker is in danger of becoming the new Lasogga at Elland Road because of how clunky he has looked on the ball and how sloppy he has been in front of goal.

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Calvert-Lewin must finally find his form in front of goal and start to become more reliable with the ball at his feet and in duels with opposition defenders if he wants to avoid going down as a flop in West Yorkshire.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo buscando o resultado após sair perdendo para o Flamengo, o técnico Mano Menezes não saiu satisfeito com o empate. Ainda assim, o treinador gostou da postura do Corinthians no jogo deste sábado (7), na Neo Química Arena. 

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCorinthians perde zagueiro para jogo após período de datas FifaCorinthians08/10/2023FlamengoFabrício Bruno lamenta empate com o Corinthians e comenta possível ida de Tite para o FlamengoFlamengo07/10/2023BrasileirãoAssista aos melhores momentos de Corinthians x FlamengoBrasileirão07/10/2023

– Não sai satisfeito com o resultado, mas saio satisfeito com o comportamento da equipe. Estivemos melhores posicionados. Na defesa já bem melhor posicionado. Enfrentamos uma equipe com muita qualidade, com movimentações boas e sempre se espera algo de diferente deles e minha equipe se comportou melhor e ofereceu menos oportunidades. A partir daí, você vai sofrendo menos. É uma série de coisas para melhorar, mas o caminho é esse – disse o técnico na entrevista coletiva após a partida. 

+VEJA A TABELA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO E SIMULE OS PRÓXIMOS JOGOS

Mano ressaltou que a qualidade do adversário exalta a melhora corintiana no confronto deste fim de semana.

– Não é só comportamento. Temos que aliar isso às condições de um jogo mais bem executado. Jogamos contra um time com muita movimentação. Precisamos estar atentos, fomos bem em vários momentos, mas erramos em tantos outros. O caminho é trabalhar bastante nessa parada e estaremos melhor depois desse período de treinamento.

continua após a publicidade

Com o resultado, o Corinthians manteve a sua distância da zona do rebaixamento, que é de quatro pontos. E isso não mudará, independentemente do resultado da partida entre Palmeiras e Santos neste domingo (8), já que Bahia, Goiás e Vasco já entraram em campo nesta rodada.

De toda forma, Mano Menezes diz que a possibilidade de entrar no Z4  não é discutida no Timão. 

+ Tem promoção exclusiva de boas-vindas pra você! Aposte a partir de R$10 e receba até R$200 de bônus na Lance! Betting

– Não se falou sobre isso (zona do rebaixamento) com os jogadores, porque não é questão nossa. Quem fala em rebaixamento é quem está no Z4, e a equipe vem se mantendo fora há um tempo. Mas é óbvio que precisamos melhorar o percentual de pontuação. Um ponto a cada seis não é o suficiente, mas às vezes não é o pior, pois pode lhe dar consistência para buscar mais.

continua após a publicidade

O Corinthians voltará a campo após 11 dias, por conta do período de paralisação do futebol brasileiro por conta das datas Fifa. O próximo duelo será contra o Fluminense, no dia 18 de agosto, no Rio de Janeiro, pela 27ª rodada do Brasileirão. O tempo sem jogos será importante para que o treinador dê mais a sua cara para a equipe. 

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– Cada dia vamos trabalhar na direção de melhorar as questões gerais da equipe. Sofremos um pouco nas retomadas, quando a bola vai e volta perdemos o posicionamento, seja ofensivo ou defensivo. A equipe precisa percorrer as distâncias mais rápido e isso é possível. Existe uma mudança de ritmo nisso e o treinamento todos os dias faz você ganhar uma condição melhor, a equipe precisa desse trabalho e os jogadores estão sedentos por isso, por essas informações e é isso que vamos dar a equipe – pontuou Mano.

Mano Menezes fez somente a sua segunda partida no comando corintiano na passagem atual e ainda não venceu. A primeira havia sido na terça-feira (3), quando o Timão foi derrotado para o Fortaleza, no confronto em que foi eliminado da Conmebol Sul-Americana. A estreia seria no clássico contra o São Paulo, no dia 1º de outubro, mas como carregava uma suspensão por acúmulo de cartões, da época em que dirigia o Internacional, cumpriu suspensão, e o Corinthians foi comandado pelo auxiliar Sidnei Lobo.

تحدث الإسباني لويس إنريكي، مدرب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي باريس سان جيرمان عن مدى خطورة إصابة اللاعب الدولي الفرنسي عثمان ديمبلي، وموقفه من مباراة بايرن ميونخ ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه باريس سان جيرمان نظيره بايرن ميونخ مساء يوم الثلاثاء المقبل في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وخلال مباراة باريس سان جيرمان الأخيرة في الدوري أمام نيس، انتشر فيديو يحتوي على محادثة بين ديمبلي وأشرف حكيمي، يعترف فيها الأول بمعاناته من مشاكل جسدية حيث قال عثمان: “أوتار الركبة تؤلمني بشدة”.

وقال إنريكي حول ذلك في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “عثمان لاعب من طراز مختلف، من الرائع رؤيته في الملعب لكن علينا التحلي بالصبر والاستماع إلى ما يريده”.

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وأكمل: “إن رؤية ديمبيلي في الملعب لعشر أو عشرين دقيقة أمر مثير ورائع بالفعل، نشعر بالكثير من الرضا حول مستواه الأخير وتطوره ولسنا قلقين من هذا أبدًا”.

سيخضع عثمان لفحوصات طبية أولية لتحديد مدى الألم الذي عانى منه خلال مباراة نيس، وستعتمد مشاركته في مباراة باريس سان جيرمان المهمة بدوري أبطال أوروبا على نتائج هذه الفحوصات.

وعن مواجهة بايرن ميونخ قال إنريكي: “لقد فازوا في آخر 15 مباراة وهذا أمر رائع، نحن متحمسون لمواجهة أحد أفضل الفرق في أوروبا، وكلنا ثقة، نعرف الأجواء التي سيخلقها جمهورنا وسنسعى جاهدين لتحقيق أقصى استفادة منها”.

على الرغم من تدهور علاقة رودري وريال مدريد بعد صراع الكرة الذهبية العام الماضي، إلا أن النادي الإسباني لم يغفل عن موهبة نجم مانشستر سيتي الكبيرة.

وقد ارتبط ريال مدريد بشكل متزايد بالتعاقد مع رودري لاعب خط وسط مانشستر سيتي في الأشهر الأخيرة، وهو أمر مثير للاهتمام في وقت يبقى فيه مستقبل فينيسيوس جونيور غامضًا.

وعلى الرغم من معاناة رودري من إصابات عديدة إلا أن ريال مدريد يدرك موهبة اللاعب الإسباني وما يمكن أن يضيفه للفريق.

اقرأ أيضاً.. ريفالدو: أتفهم سبب غضب فينيسيوس.. ولم يعجبني أداء برشلونة أمام ريال مدريد

ونقلاً عن صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية فإن مانشستر سيتي يدرك تماماً موهبة رودري ويسعى الآن لتمديد عقده.

وينتهي عقد رودري الحالي مع مانشستر سيتي في عام 2027 ويحرص النادي على تجديد عقده قبل فوات الآوان، وبدأ السيتيزن بالفعل تجديد عقد اللاعب الإسباني حيث تعافى من إصابته والمفاوضات جارية.

وحدد مانشستر سيتي رودري كلاعب أساسي في النادي، ويسعى النادي الإنجليزي لتأمين مستقبل ركيزة أساسية للفريق، ويعد هذا جزء من استراتيجية للحفاظ على لاعبيه الأساسيين.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após cinco clássicos disputados em 2023, Fluminense e Flamengo voltam a campo pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, neste domingo, às 16h (de Brasília). O duelo vem se mostrando equilibrado com duas vitórias para cada lado e um empate na temporada atual.

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O Lance! relembra como o confronto entre as duas equipes vem sendo uma caixinha de surpresas para os torcedores, uma vez que a imprevisibilidade vem tomando conta do duelo, independentemente da fase dos times. Como em um carrossel com altos e baixos, o Tricolor das Laranjeiras e o Rubro-Negro visam o triunfo no Brasileirão.

CARROSSEL DO FLA-FLU EM 2023

No início do ano, o Flamengo começou a temporada com grandes expectativas, uma vez que vinha dos títulos da Copa do Brasil e Libertadores no fim de 2022. Após liderar o Campeonato Carioca por grande parte da competição, o Fluminense conquistou uma vitória em um momento considerado improvável na 11ª rodada da fase de pontos corridos e conquistou a Taça Guanabara.

+ Fluminense pode igualar número de vitórias do Flamengo no Brasileirão desde 1971

Na decisão do torneio, os dois maiores vencedores estaduais voltaram a se encontrar após o Rubro-Negro ter decepcionado seus torcedores com inúmeros vice-campeonatos, mas venceu o Tricolor das Laranjeiras no jogo de ida por 2 a 0. Mas ainda assim, a equipe de Fernando Diniz deu a volta por cima, driblou as probabilidades e impôs uma goleada imponente por 4 a 1 e venceu o Campeonato Carioca.

Depois, foi a vez do Flamengo dar o troco, em competição considerada mais importante que o Estadual: a Copa do Brasil. O sorteio do mata-mata nacional colocou as equipes frente a frente logo nas oitavas de final, em momento bem diferentes daquele que chegaram na decisão do Campeonato Carioca. Dessa vez, o Tricolor era considerado favorito à avançar, mas, assim como o Rubro-Negro no início, teve a expectativa quebrada.

+ Sampaoli estuda possibilidades para driblar desfalques e armar Flamengo ‘potente’ contra o Fluminense

Já com Jorge Sampaoli, o Flamengo soube controlar a ida, que terminou em empate sem gols, e foi dominante no jogo de volta. O argentino deu o famoso “nó” no Fluminense de Fernando Diniz e, com gols de Arrascaeta e Gabigol, referências técnicas do elenco, venceu por 2 a 0 e garantiu vaga nas quartas de final. Vale destacar que, neste meio de semana, o Rubro-Negro derrotou o Athletico Paranaense e se classificou para a semifinal da Copa do Brasil.

COMO CHEGAM FLUMINENSE E FLAMENGO

Longe de viver sua melhor fase na temporada, o Fluminense também deixou seu pior momento para trás e busca se estabilizar no Brasileirão. Nos últimos seis jogos do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Tricolor conquistou três vitórias, teve dois empates e uma derrota dura e embaraçosa contra o São Paulo.

Apesar disso, a equipe de Fernando Diniz conquistou a liderança do Grupo D da Libertadores no fim do mês passado e há duas semanas vem tendo semanas cheias de treinamentos para recuperar atletas, entrosar os novos reforços e recuperar o melhor futebol do time, que resultou em uma boa vitória sobre o Internacional, no último fim de semana.

+ Quem é melhor: Fluminense ou Flamengo? Veja votação jogador por jogador feita pela equipe do LANCE!

O Rubro-Negro, por sua vez, vive grande momento em 2023. Desde a chegada de Sampaoli, a equipe ganhou uma identidade própria e, já com a ajuda dos reforços que chegaram, como Allan e Luiz Araújo, é candidato a todos os títulos na temporada. O Flamengo venceu 13 dos últimos 15 jogos, com apenas uma derrota, para o Bragantino, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

O clima de clássico, especialmente diante do Fluminense, é algo que motiva bastante os jogadores do Flamengo. As equipes têm se enfrentado regularmente em grandes estágios e, dessa vez, a partida vale a manutenção na vice-liderança do Brasileirão. Vale destacar, contudo, que o Rubro-Negro não vai contar com três titulares, Fabrício Bruno, Ayrton Lucas e Erick Pulgar, por conta de suspensão.

O clássico Fla-Flu acontecerá no Maracanã, e os ingressos já estão praticamente esgotados, ou seja, é promessa de casa cheia para aquele que promete ser um grande jogo. No momento, o Flamengo tem 26 pontos no Campeonato Brasileiro e é segundo colocado, enquanto o Fluminense é o quarto, com dois a menos, caracterizando um “confronto direto”.

Leeds United have had some incredibly gifted attacking players grace the turf at Elland Road in recent seasons to help them to succeed on the pitch.

Go back to Pablo Hernandez and Raphinha under Marcelo Bielsa, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter under Daniel Farke. There have been some remarkable talents at the club.

Unfortunately, the Whites wer unable to add more attacking quality to their current squad of players for the Premier League season when they tried to dip into the market on deadline day.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider: “There will be a hint of frustration for Daniel Farke – they missed out on some targets.

“They are still lacking a bit up front, Leeds and he fears for them on that front – not getting the deal done for Manor Solomon will be a blow to Farke and the Leeds fans, because he had such a great impact there on loan last season.”

The Whites will have to hope that other players are now able to step up and show that they can be the club’s next number ten in the making, to truly take over from the likes of Summerville and Raphinha.

Why Leeds needs to find their next Summerville or Raphinha

You only have to look at what happened to Leeds in the Premier League with and without Raphinha to realise how important it is to have a pure game-changer in the squad. Someone who can create something out of nothing to win a game for the team.

The Brazil international helped the Whites to avoid relegation in both of his seasons in the Premier League at Elland Road, and they were relegated the season he left for Barcelona in 2022.

Raphinha scored 17 goals and created 22 ‘big chances’ in two Premier League seasons with Leeds, per Sofascore, which shows that he made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

30

35

Goals

6

11

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

12

10

Key passes per game

2.1

1.9

Assists

9

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

1.8

Summerville picked up the club’s number ten shirt after Raphinha’s move to Barcelona and went on to become a hugely important player for Daniel Farke in the 2023/24 Championship season.

The Dutch wizard racked up 19 goals and nine assists in 41 starts in the regular season of the second tier, before adding another goal to his tally during the play-offs against Norwich City, per Sofascore.

These statistics show that Summerville and Raphinha were mercurial wingers who could impact games with goals and assists on a regular basis to win vital points for the team during their time at Leeds.

The club’s current holder of the number ten shirt, Joel Piroe, is not that kind of player. He is a goal poacher, and a good one at Championship level, who scored 19 goals in the second tier last term.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

His lack of physicality, having won 27% of his duels in the Championship last season and 9% of his duels in the Premier League so far, may prevent him from making much of an impact in the top-flight, as opposition defenders find it too easy to get the better of him in physical battles.

Leeds, though, may have a natural successor to the number ten shirt in waiting in the form of summer signing Noah Okafor, who could be the new Raphinha for the club at Premier League level.

Why Noah Okafor may be the new Raphinha for Leeds

The Switzerland international arrived from AC Milan in a £17m deal last month and ended the window as the only winger signed by the club all summer.

Leeds have gambled on the 25-year-old attacker after he endured a dismal 2024/25 campaign. The speedster only scored one goal in 21 matches for Napoli and Milan in all competitions, per Sofascore, and missed 13 games through injury, per Transfermarkt.

Okafor’s worrying injury record and his disappointing goal return last season may not fill many supporters with much hope for the kind of impact he can have on the pitch in the Premier League this season.

However, the Swiss left winger’s form in previous seasons suggests that there is the potential for him to emerge as a Raphinha-esque star who is worthy of wearing the number ten shirt at Elland Road.

Okafor produced six goals in 881 minutes in the Serie A in the 2023/24 campaign, a goal every 147 minutes on average, for Milan, which shows what he can do when fit.

The Leeds winger shone in Austria for RB Salzburg prior to his move to Milan in 2023, having racked up 34 goals and 23 assists in 110 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

Appearances

21

Goals

9

Conversion rate

24%

Minutes per goal

105

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.2

Assists

8

As you can see in the table above, Okafor’s best season in Austria shows that he does have the potential to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis when he is at his best.

The Switzerland international was described as an “electric” and “dangerous” player by analyst Ben Mattinson, which are adjectives that could also be used to describe both Summerville and Raphinha during their time at Elland Road.

Okafor has not had much luck with injuries in recent seasons, which has affected his development, but his form for Milan in his first season in Italy and his performances for Salzburg show that he does have the quality to make a big impact in the final third.

It is now down to Farke to get the best out of the left-sided attacker because he could be the Raphinha to his Bielsa at Premier League level, by scoring and assisting goals to win vital points for the team.

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Given Piroe’s dismal start to the Premier League season, losing 91% of his duels and being left as an unused substitute against Newcastle last time out, Okafor may have a real chance to grab the number ten shirt next season if the Dutchman moves on and he produes quality displays out wide this term.

Manchester franchise hoping to challenge United and City as IPL investors arrive in “UK’s number one sporting city”

Matt Roller14-Feb-2025

Fi Morris, Daniel Gidney, James Sheridan and Matty Hurst pose with Lucknow Super Giants shirts•Lancashire CCC

Lancashire officials have played down the idea that Manchester Originals could be seen as a consolation prize by the RPSG Group, who are finalising a deal for 70% stake in the franchise after missing out on a minority share in London Spirit.Lancashire shortlisted four bidders with links to IPL franchises, though Reliance, the owners of Mumbai Indians, were removed when they won the auction for a stake in Oval Invincibles. The RPSG Group – who run Lucknow Super Giants – eventually saw off competition from Kolkata Knight Riders and Amit Jain, whose bid involved a cricketing partnership with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.The auction for Originals took place three days after the RPSG Group had missed out on London Spirit, the Lord’s-based franchise, in a three-hour bidding war with a Silicon Valley tech consortium. They were the final bidders remaining as Spirit’s valuation reached an eye-watering £295 million, and instead secured Originals at a valuation of £116m.Related

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Lancashire have stressed that the RPSG Group had been their preferred partner for a significant period of time, and RPSG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka has insisted his commitment to “developing a deep bond” with the club, saying he sees “huge potential” in the partnership.”Lord’s is Lord’s, but Manchester is Manchester,” Shashwat Goenka, Sanjiv’s son and the group’s vice-chairman, said at a launch event at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday. “While we did bid aggressively for Lord’s, we stopped at a point and I’m extremely happy with Manchester. We’ve been delighted with our interactions with Lancashire and I’m very excited with this partnership.”James Sheridan, Originals’ chair, played down the significance of the failed bids in London. “It doesn’t concern us,” he said. “We’ve had some amazing conversations… I was actually on the phone to one of Shashwat’s colleagues the minute after the auction finished in London. We’re not concerned. We’ve got 100 percent, total confidence that RPSG is in the right place.”ESPNcricinfo revealed last year that officials from the RPSG Group had visited Manchester during the Hundred, while Lancashire also sent a delegation to Kolkata – where RPSG is based – last year. “The team from Lucknow have just been exemplary from a partnership approach, right from day one,” Sheridan said. “We have got a fantastic partner that we can build something very special with.”Lancashire opted to sell part of their stake in Originals but will retain 30% and plan to include a reserved matters provision – effectively a set of veto rights – while drawing up contracts over the next six weeks. They will use their windfall of more than £30 million to pay down their debt and invest in infrastructure projects, including the development of a second home venue in Farington, near Preston.Daniel Gidney, Lancashire’s chief executive, believes that new investment will eventually help Originals compete with Manchester’s two Premier League football clubs. “We’ve talked about Manchester being probably the UK’s number one sporting city… We want the Manchester franchise in the Hundred to become the third-biggest sports team in Manchester and challenge those two [United and City].Sheridan and Gidney speak to the press•Lancashire CCC

“That is the scale and level of the ambition of both of us as partners… This is something that is incredibly exciting for us and that is why we wanted to partner with an IPL team and we always have done. You’ve got a 1.4 billion population of people who adore cricket: why wouldn’t we want to inject a bit of that energy and passion into Manchester and Lancashire?”The two parties did not confirm as much but it is widely expected that the franchise will be renamed Manchester Super Giants from 2026, following the lead of the Lucknow and Durban teams in the IPL and SA20 respectively. The RPSG Group also own Mohun Bagan, the Kolkata-based football club who play in the Indian Super League.LSG reached the play-offs in their first two IPL seasons before missing out on net run-rate last year, and spent a record INR 27 crore (£2.54m approx.) on Rishabh Pant at November’s auction. The arrival of four IPL owners in the Hundred has led to speculation that Indian men’s players could feature in future, but that appears unlikely in the short term.”If you could get Rishabh Pant playing in the Hundred, you’d have a lot more eyeballs on what’s going on,” Sheridan said. “But we all know that the BCCI doesn’t allow that to happen at the moment… I don’t think that is likely to change anytime soon.” Goenka added: “Where Indian players play and don’t play is the prerogative of the BCCI.”Phil Salt and Beth Mooney, who have both been retained for 2025, said that the partnership will benefit Originals. “There’s definitely a new level for this tournament to find,” Salt said. “At the inception of the IPL, their ambition was to bring the world’s best tournament that we’ve ever seen… We sit here today knowing full well that our ambition is to bring the world’s best cricket to Manchester.”Mooney, speaking from Vadodara shortly before playing for Gujarat Giants, added: “The IPL changed the landscape of men’s cricket, and we’re seeing that starting to happen with the WPL heading into its third season… The exciting part of the Hundred is that it’s only going to get bigger and better.”